PSP firmware updated to 2.71

New download allows game demos to be downloaded directly to memory stick, addresses LocationFree Player issue.

Sony has released a new firmware update to the PlayStation Portable that moves the system from the 2.70 version released in April to 2.71. As the incremental advancement in the version number suggests, it doesn't seem to be a very large update--it notifies users of only two changes upon installation.

The bigger of the two changes included in the update is the ability to download game demos directly from the PSP Internet browser to the system's memory stick. The other change is a fix for the LocationFree Player so that video output is displayed properly when an external tuner is selected.

According to Sony's Japanese PlayStation site, that country's PSP owners are getting a little bit extra with the 2.71 update. The page mentions new integration with Sony's Portable TV download rental service and access to downloadable demos for Loco Roco and Kazuo, a Sudoku game from Sony released here as Go! Sodoku. A downloadable Loco Roco demo was released alongside the 2.70 PSP update in Japan, but the PSP's Internet browser could not display the site from which it could be retrieved.

In January, Sony announced that US PSPs would get the Portable TV-like ability to download movies and short clips from Sony's iTunes-rival Connect site. The company set a March deadline for that update, but it was unable to meet that date. This morning, a Sony representative told GameSpot that there were no new details or time frame announced for when that functionality would be added.

lol... i think the only way to degrade psp is if u got 2.0. I did it myself for a while. But mutch of it sucks... i have now 2.71 because i think if the demo's are availible, i think some hackers will find a way to make games so the psp think's it's a demo :D that way we can download games to the memory stick and play'em like in 1.5... i think mario smash was a fun game to the 1.5 and hope someone will make it work with games on 2.17 too :D
:) but i'm shure someone will make a degrade to 2.17 in a while too

yeah.. is there any way to "de-update" my psp? i just recently found out about homebrews and emulators but i updated mine before i knew about them.. i tried formatting my memory stick but nope, still 2.71

Too bad this update didn't include this:
Game:
- PSP now has the ability to play decent games
- Users can now play games for more then a maximum of 2 hours without getting more
- Developers realize that it is pathetic that old SNES games are more fun then anything they put on the PSP
Music:
- Finally made every song type playable
==
Has this guy even played Mega man, Generation of Chaos, Monster Hunter, Tales of Eternia, Metal gear Acid 1&2, Ridge Racer, Breath of Fire III, Untold legends, Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim?
I could go on all day >.>

Can we ever go easy on the cynicism of the Psp? Seriously there are some very good games of quite a few genres (not just racing as Joe public would like you to believe)
Makes me wonder whats next on the list of software updates. Some office tools like schedule/calendar/alarmclock maybe?

Nice incremental update, good if for no other reason than to show that Sony is continuing to support and make plans for the PSP.
I think the downloadable games would be really nice if Sony ever gets around to creating an online service a la XBOX Live! Arcade. And I suspect a lot of us are looking forward to seeing them open up that PlayStation library on the PSP too. I wonder how much those games will cost to download...

The last thing I remember about the Firmware updates is the inability to use ROMs [SNES, Sega, etc.].
If that is still out I will not get a PSP.
If there is a workaround......I will wait for another price drop. :D

Too bad this update didn't include this:
Game:
- PSP now has the ability to play decent games
- Users can now play games for more then a maximum of 2 hours without getting more
- Developers realize that it is pathetic that old SNES games are more fun then anything they put on the PSP
Music:
- Finally made every song type playable